Mountain Parkway Expansion Progress Report: Week Beginning May 22

This periodic report includes highlights about work underway on the Mountain Parkway Expansion. Inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances could affect planned activities.

Morgan-Wolfe County

Crews who are relocating telephone lines will stop traffic periodically between mile points 60 and 61 on the Mountain Parkway on Tuesday, May 23. Drivers should expect four brief delays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for up to 30 minutes each, though the stoppages typically won’t last more than 5 to 15 minutes.

Local law enforcement will assist with traffic control, and motorists should slow down and use caution around the work zones.

Construction workers are scheduled to set beams Friday, May 26, on the KY 205 bridge over State Fork Road.

Crews have stopped hauling material in Wolfe County to allow construction of six bridges, but they continue hauling materials on the project in Morgan County. The clearing and excavation work is off the parkway and not interfering with traffic flow.

However, drivers might occasionally find themselves stopped briefly near the Magoffin-Morgan county line as a safety precaution while crews are blasting.

Crews constructing this segment also continue to work on a ramp over Red River and expect to finish drilling for bridge supports in the coming weeks – with no traffic impact expected.

The Morgan County segment of the Mountain Parkway Expansion project covers 8.2 miles in Wolfe, Morgan and Magoffin counties. Improvements include widening the parkway to four lanes between mile points 56 and 65, improving and modernizing interchanges and eliminating an “S” curve near the Morgan/Magoffin county line.

Magoffin County

Crews have finished pouring the deck of the new bridge at the KY 30 interchange. Next, they will begin preparing a road base ahead of paving. Travelers might also see gradework occurring, but none of this work is expected to affect traffic.

At the KY 7 interchange, workers are moving materials and dirt as they work on the bridge over Licking River. A road base and paving are expected in the coming months.

The Magoffin County Central Segment of the Mountain Parkway Expansion runs from just west of mile point 70 to just east of mile point 75.

The speed limit in the area has been reduced, and traffic on the parkway may be slowed or stopped periodically for the safety of workers and travelers.

Salyersville Restaurant Row

With students out for the summer, crews will begin working on an access road in front of Magoffin County High School. During construction, access to the school will be maintained.

Crews recently completed work on a retaining wall near the high school and are beginning construction of a second wall near the school.

Utility relocation continues, largely on the western end of the project area, near the US 460 intersection. Service lines will be installed, followed by a lift station and sewer.

Current activities are not expected to significantly affect traffic, but the speed limit in the work zone has been reduced for the safety of workers and travelers. Occasionally stoppages may be required.

About the Mountain Parkway Expansion

The Mountain Parkway Expansion is a 46-mile transportation improvement project that will create a wider, safer connection between Eastern Kentucky and the rest of the Commonwealth.

The project will widen 30 miles of the existing parkway from two lanes to four lanes, and will extend the parkway another 16 miles between Salyersville and Prestonsburg.

For more information on the Mountain Parkway Expansion, visit www.MtnParkway.com or follow the project on Twitter (@MtnParkway) or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mtnparkway). A project office is open in Magoffin Plaza in Salyersville; call (606) 349-8160 for hours.